SmiLe releases Impact Report 2025 highlighting a year of strong progress for life science startups

Lund, Sweden - SmiLe Venture Hub today publishes its Impact Report 2025, summarising a year marked by strong progress for both SmiLe as an organisation and its portfolio of high-quality life science startups within biotech, medtech and foodtech.

The report highlights how SmiLe has continued to strengthen its position as a recognised company builder, nationally and internationally, while supporting portfolio companies in reaching significant milestones in development, financing and commercialisation. 

Over the past year, SmiLe has gained increased international recognition as one of leading startup hubs within life sciences in Europe and globally. The organisation's goal to work towards becoming a preferred partner for international experts and industry players, has led to new Golden Ticket collaborations and other long-term partnerships with global industry and investors.

Nationally, SmiLe has further consolidated its role within the Swedish innovation ecosystem. During the year, the organisation was ranked as one of Sweden’s four leading startup hubs by Vinnova, and received  Tillväxtverket’s pilot grant for co-financing of portfolio companies’ development projects. SmiLe has also been tasked with supporting the development of life science strategies for regional and national organisations being represented in the Swedish Government’s Advisory Board for Life Sciences.

The Impact Report 2025 underlines the importance of long-term ecosystem building. Through leadership and participation in strategic projects such as Path2Patients - focusing on the development of cell and gene therapy, Health2Innovation - developing European educational programs for entrepreneurship, and APPROVALS - facilitating the deployment and integration of emerging technologies in the field of cellular agriculture on an European level, SmiLe has contributed to strengthening the conditions for life science innovation far beyond southern Sweden.

“SmiLe’s role is to enable others to succeed. Our impact is measured not only by recognition, but by the progress made by the startups, researchers and partners we work with every day,” says Ulrika Ringdahl, CEO of SmiLe Venture Hub.